A connector arrangement, a system for extracorporeal blood treatment and a method for priming a fluid chamber of a blood treatment unit

ABSTRACT

A connector arrangement ( 10 ) for connecting to a fluid chamber ( 6 ) of a blood treatment unit ( 4 ) for extracorporeal blood treatments. The connector arrangement ( 10 ) includes a connector device ( 11 ) with a connector body ( 47 ) comprising a port opening ( 43 ) and an interior wall ( 50 ) defining a port space ( 39 ) designed to receive a first fluid port ( 8 A) of the fluid chamber ( 6 ). The connector device ( 11 ) also incorporates a fluid path ( 35   a ) extending from the port space ( 39 ) to a first end opening ( 51 ) of the connector device ( 11 ), and an air path ( 36   a ) extending from the port space ( 39 ) to a second end opening ( 52 ) of the connector device ( 11 ), wherein the fluid path ( 35   a ) and the air path ( 36   a ) are separate paths. Also a system ( 1 ) for extracorporeal blood treatment including the connector arrangement ( 10 ) and a method for priming the fluid chamber ( 6 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of renal replacement therapyfor extracorporeal blood treatment, and in particular to a connectorarrangement, a system for extracorporeal blood treatment and a methodfor priming. The disclosure also relates to a computer program and acomputer program product.

BACKGROUND

Renal replacement therapy is used for patients that have poorlyfunctioning kidneys, and need to treat their blood outside their bodies.An extracorporeal blood treatment can be used to extract undesirablesubstances or molecules from the patient's blood, and, if necessary, toadd desirable substances or molecules to the blood. The extracorporealblood treatment is accomplished by passing blood through a bloodtreatment unit, e.g. a dialyzer or a hemofilter. A membrane separatesthe blood treatment unit into a blood chamber and a fluid chamber. Bloodwithdrawn from the patient is introduced into the blood chamber. Themembrane is semipermeable to selectively allow matter in the blood toflow across the membrane from the blood chamber into the fluid chamber.The membrane also selectively allows matter in the fluid chamber to flowacross the membrane into the blood chamber, depending on the type oftreatment.

The membrane may be divided into a plurality of multiple hollow fibersin a hollow fiber structure to maximize the boundary area between theblood chamber and the fluid chamber. In the treatment unit, the bloodmay flow along the inside of the fibers and fluid along the outside ofthe fibers, or vice versa. The flows are normally counter current toincrease the efficiency of the treatment. Conceptually the semipermeablemembrane can be viewed as a perforated sheet.

Before the treatment unit can be used in a treatment, it has to beprimed in order to remove any air inside the treatment unit. After thepriming has been completed it is desired to maintain the fluid path andthe blood path unbroken, and for example the connectors to the bloodtreatment unit shall not have to be moved to start a treatment. Acommonly used procedure is to first prime the blood chamber from thebottom of the blood chamber to the top of the blood chamber with primingfluid that is introduced via a lower connection to the blood chamber.Any air in the blood chamber will then escape via an upper connection ofthe blood chamber. Thereafter the treatment unit is turned about 180degrees such that the fluid chamber also can be primed from the bottomof the fluid chamber to the top of the fluid chamber with priming fluidvia a connection to a now lower connection of the fluid chamber. Anytrapped air will then escape from a now upper connection of the fluidchamber. This because the priming fluid is heavier than air and willfill the treatment unit via the lower connection from the bottom of thetreatment unit and the air in the treatment unit will be pressed out ofthe treatment unit via the upper connection. This commonly usedprocedure is illustrated e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 8,875,748B2 andEP0747074B1. By turning the treatment unit, the fluid chamber can beprimed from its bottom to its top without having to change the positionof the connectors to the treatment unit, and without passing primingfluid from a waste line to the fluid chamber. However, the commonly usedprocedure to turn the treatment unit during priming requires an operatorto manually turn the treatment unit, either by means of a rotatableholder holding the treatment unit, or by removing the treatment unitfrom the holder, turn the treatment unit upside down, and put it backinto the holder.

SUMMARY

The priming procedure of the treatment unit has to be taught to theoperator, and it is advantageous that the procedure is easy. Further,the rotatable arm is exposed to wear and often becomes broken and has tobe repaired. Thus, there is a need for an improved solution of primingthe treatment unit.

It is an objective of the disclosure to alleviate at least some of thedrawbacks with the prior art. It is a further objective to decrease themanual operation and to increase the degree of automatization of thepriming procedure of the blood treatment unit. It is a further objectiveto reduce the time for setting up a blood treatment system and make itready for treatment. It is a still further objective to reduce theoverall costs for the blood treatment system.

These objectives and others are at least partly achieved by thearrangement, system and the method according to the independent claims,and by the embodiments according to the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect, the disclosure relates to a connectorarrangement for connecting to a fluid chamber of a blood treatment unitfor extracorporeal blood treatments. The connector arrangement includesa connector device with a connector body comprising a port opening andan interior wall defining a port space designed to receive a first fluidport of the fluid chamber. The connector device also incorporates afluid path extending from the port space to a first end opening of theconnector device and an air path extending from the port space to asecond end opening of the connector device, wherein the fluid path andthe air path are separate paths.

With the connector arrangement, the treatment unit does not have to beturned during priming of the same. The whole treatment unit can beprimed while the treatment unit is in a fixed, same position. Duringpriming, priming fluid is conducted via the fluid path into the fluidchamber, and at the same time, air trapped in the fluid chamber willfind its way out from the fluid chamber via the air path in theconnector device. The fluid path and the air path extend inside theconnector body of the connector device.

According to some embodiments, the connector arrangement includes aguiding arrangement incorporating a fluid lumen and an air lumen,wherein the fluid lumen is connected to the fluid path at the first endopening, and the air lumen is connected to the air path at the secondend opening. By means of the guiding arrangement, the connector devicemay be connected to a fluid line and a drain line of a renal replacementtherapy machine.

According to some embodiments, the connector body defines a first bodypart connected to the guiding arrangement and a second body partincorporating the port opening and the port space.

According to some embodiments, the first body part and the second bodypart are arranged with an intermediate angle α of 70°-160°. Thereby theconnector device may be easily held with one hand by an operator.

According to some embodiments, the connector arrangement includes alocking arrangement arranged to releasably lock the connector device tothe first fluid port of the fluid chamber. Thereby the connectorarrangement may be securely maintained in place to the first fluid portof the fluid chamber.

According to a second aspect, the disclosure relates to a system forextracorporeal blood treatment. The system includes a blood treatmentunit having a blood chamber, a fluid chamber and a semipermeablemembrane that separates the chambers from each other. The blood chamberis provided with a first blood port and a second blood port, and thefluid chamber is provided with a first fluid port and a second fluidport. The system further includes a fluid circuit including the fluidchamber, and a connector arrangement as described herein.

As the system includes the connector arrangement where the fluid chambermay be primed by passing priming fluid into the fluid chamber and airout of the fluid chamber via the same fluid port, the treatment unitdoes not have to be turned during priming of the same. The wholetreatment unit can be primed while the treatment unit is in a fixed,same position.

The operation of the system may thus be simplified as there is no needfor the operator to turn the treatment unit. Further, the automatizationdegree of the system can be increased, as all steps of a start-upsequence including the priming can be automatically performed withoutoperator interaction. The time for starting up the system can thus bereduced.

As there is no need to turn the treatment unit, there is no need for arotatable arm. The overall cost of the system may thus be reduced, as arotatable arm is an expensive part of a machine of the system that nowcan be obviated.

According to some embodiments, the first fluid port is located above thesecond fluid port when the blood treatment unit is arranged in anoperating position to a cabinet wall of a blood treatment machine of thesystem, and wherein the connector device is connected to the first fluidport. Thereby air trapped in the fluid chamber will be allowed to escapefrom the fluid chamber via the air path of the connector device.

According to some embodiments, the fluid circuit includes a drain lineconnected to the second fluid port for passing of waste fluid from thefluid chamber, wherein the air lumen is connected to the drain line forpassing of air from the connector arrangement to the drain line. Therebyair from the fluid chamber can be conducted out of the system via thedrain line.

According to some embodiments, the fluid circuit includes a fluid lineconnected to a fluid lumen, wherein the fluid lumen is connected to thefluid path at the first end opening. Thereby fluid such as priming fluidmay be conducted to the fluid chamber from the fluid line. The fluidline may be an internal line of a renal replacement therapy machine ofthe system.

According to some embodiments, the system includes a fluid pump forpumping fluid in the fluid circuit, and a control unit configured tocontrol the fluid pump to pump fluid into the fluid chamber whereby thefluid chamber is filled with fluid and air trapped in the fluid chamberis evacuated via the air path and the air lumen to the drain line.

According to some embodiments, the control unit is configured to monitora filling criterion for the fluid chamber, and to stop the filling whenthe criterion has been fulfilled.

According to some embodiments, the filling criterion includes: apredetermined time limit for the time period for filling the fluidchamber, and/or a predetermined pressure limit on the pressure in any ofthe drain line or the connecting line and/or a predetermined fluid levellimit in a fluid accumulator arranged to the drain line and/or apresence of air and/or presence of liquid in any of the drain line orthe connecting line.

According to a third aspect, the disclosure relates to a method forpriming a fluid chamber of a blood treatment unit of a system accordingto any of the embodiments as described herein, wherein the connectordevice is attached to the first fluid port. The method includes:

-   -   preventing fluid from escaping the fluid chamber via the second        fluid port;    -   filling the fluid chamber with fluid passed via the fluid line,        the fluid lumen and the fluid path, meanwhile air trapped in the        fluid chamber escapes via the air path and the air lumen.

The fluid may be a liquid such as water or a water solution such aspriming fluid or dialysis fluid.

According to some embodiments, the blood treatment unit is arranged inan operating position on a machine of the system such that the firstfluid port is located above the second fluid port before the fillingstarts, whereby the filling includes filling the fluid chamber from thebottom of the fluid chamber and up. The fluid is thus passed via thefirst fluid port into the fluid chamber, but because of gravity thefluid is forced downwards in the fluid chamber and thereby fills thefluid chamber from the bottom and up. As no fluid is allowed to escapethrough the lowermost second fluid port, the fluid keeps filling thefluid chamber.

According to some embodiments, the method includes stopping the fillingwhen a filling criterion has been fulfilled.

According to some embodiments, the system includes a blood lineconnected to the blood chamber and the priming of the fluid chamber ispart of a priming procedure of the blood treatment unit includingpriming of the blood chamber.

According to some embodiments, the filling of the fluid chamber andpriming of the blood chamber is performed when the blood treatment unitis kept in substantially the same orientation.

According to some embodiments, the method includes passing the escapedair to a drain line of the fluid circuit.

According to some embodiments, the method includes preventing the fluidfrom escaping the fluid chamber by closing a valve unit arranged to adrain line arranged to the second fluid port.

According to a fourth aspect, the disclosure relates to a computerprogram configured to operate on a system for extracorporeal bloodtreatment, wherein the computer program includes computer instructions,which computer program, when downloaded and executed by a processor ofthe control unit, causes the control unit to perform any of the methodsteps as disclosed herein.

According to a fifth aspect, the disclosure relates to a computerreadable medium including computer instructions that, when executed bythe processor of a control unit of a system for extracorporeal bloodtreatment, cause the control unit to perform the method according to anyof the method steps as disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system for renal replacement therapy according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a connector arrangement according to someembodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates the connector arrangement in FIG. 2 in an angledfront view.

FIG. 4 is illustrating an example of a fluid port.

FIG. 5 is illustrating a cross-section of the connector arrangement inFIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is illustrating a flowchart of a method according to someembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1 a system 1 for renal replacement therapy is illustrated. Thesystem 1 includes a renal replacement therapy machine 50, a dialysisfluid circuit 2 and an extracorporeal blood circuit 3 including a bloodline and a blood treatment unit 4. The blood treatment unit 4 may be afilter unit or a dialyzer. The blood treatment unit 4 includes asemipermeable membrane 5 that separates a fluid chamber 6 and a bloodchamber 7 of the blood treatment unit 4. The semipermeable membrane 5may be divided into a multiple of hollow fibers in a hollow fiberstructure. Conceptually the semipermeable membrane 5 may however beviewed as a sheet perforated by holes or pores.

The blood line includes an arterial line 20 and a venous line 24. Theblood line is connected to the blood chamber 7 of the blood treatmentunit 4. Thus, the arterial line 20 is connected to a first blood port 9Aof the blood chamber 7 of the blood treatment unit 4 and the venous line24 is connected to a second blood port 9B of the blood chamber 7 of theblood treatment unit 4. The arterial line 20 is fitted with aperistaltic pump 21 arranged to supply a blood flow Q_(B) in thearterial line 20. The arterial line 20 is further fitted with anarterial valve unit 22 for closing or opening the arterial line 20 to ablood access point 23 of the arterial line 20. The blood access point 23may be connected via a needle to a patient for withdrawal of blood. Theblood access point 23 may instead be connected to a blood bag (notshown) for withdrawal of blood from the blood bag. The venous line 24 isfitted with a drip chamber 25.

The venous line 24 is further fitted with a venous valve unit 26 forclosing or opening the venous line 24 to a blood access point 27 of thevenous line 24.

The fluid circuit 2 includes a fluid line 16 and a drain line 18. Thefluid line 16 is connected to a fluid unit 28 and to a first wallconnector 14A or port arranged to a cabinet wall 13 of the renalreplacement therapy machine 50, for transfer of fluid from the fluidunit 28 to the first wall connector 14A. A connector arrangement 10 isdetachably connected to the first wall connector 14A or port with acorresponding connector, and to a first fluid port 8A of the fluidchamber 6 of the blood treatment unit 4, for further transfer of thefluid from the first wall connector 14A to the fluid chamber 6 via thefirst fluid port 8A. The connector arrangement 10 thus connects thefluid line 16 to the fluid chamber 6 of the blood treatment unit 4 whenconnected to the first fluid port 8A. The fluid circuit 2 furtherincludes a drain line 18 arranged to be connected to a second wallconnector 14B or port arranged to the cabinet wall 13, for transfer ofused fluid from the second wall connector 14B to the fluid unit 28, e.g.to a drain. The fluid circuit 2 further includes another connectorarrangement 49 detachably connected to a second fluid port 8B of thefluid chamber 6 of the blood treatment unit 4, and the second wallconnector 14B with a corresponding connector, for transfer of used fluidfrom the fluid chamber 6 to the second wall connector 14B. The firstfluid port 8A is here an inlet port to the fluid chamber 6, and thesecond fluid port 8B is an outlet port from the fluid chamber 6. Thefirst wall connector 14A may include two separate passages or connectorsfor separate transfer of fluid and air.

The fluid line 16 is further fitted with a fluid pump 15 arranged tosupply a fluid flow Q_(F) in the fluid line 16 and the connectorarrangement 10. During treatment, the fluid flows via the connectorarrangement 10 into the fluid chamber 6 of the blood treatment unit 4where the blood treatment takes place. Used fluid is passed out of thefluid chamber 6 through the second fluid port 8B, the another connectorarrangement 49, the second wall connector 14B and the drain line 18 tothe fluid unit 28. The used fluid may be passed e.g. to a drain (notshown). The fluid line 16 is further fitted with a fluid valve unit 17for restricting the fluid flow in the fluid line 16. The drain line 18is fitted with a drain valve unit 19 for restricting the used fluid flowin the drain line 18. The drain line 18 may further be fitted with adrain pump (not shown) arranged to supply a drain flow Q_(w) in thedrain line 18.

The connector arrangement 10 includes a connector device 11 arranged tobe connected to the first fluid port 8A. The connector arrangement 10further includes a guiding arrangement 12 arranged to be connected tothe first wall connector 14A via a corresponding connector. The guidingarrangement 12 and the connector device 11 are fluidly interconnected.According to some embodiments, the system 1 further includes aconnecting line 32 arranged to fluidly connect the guiding arrangement12 to the drain line 18. The connecting line 32 is connected to thefirst wall connector 14A on the inside of the machine 50 at one end, andto the drain line 18 at the other end. The connecting line 32 is fittedwith a connecting valve unit 33 for restricting a flow Q_(c) in theconnecting line 32. The drain line 18 is fitted with a detection device34 for sensing a pressure P_(w) in the drain line 18, or for sensing thepresence of fluid, e.g. air or priming fluid.

The renal replacement therapy system 1 is further arranged with acontrol unit 29 for controlling the operations of the system 1, e.g. thefluid flow Q_(F) induced by the fluid pump 15, the blood flow Q_(B)induced by the blood pump 21; and restriction of the fluid valve unit17, the used fluid valve unit 19, the arterial valve unit 22, the venousvalve unit 26, the connecting valve unit 33, and for monitoring thedetection device 34. The control unit 29 includes a processor 30 and amemory 31. The memory 31 includes a computer program configured tooperate on the system 1. The computer program includes computerinstructions, that when downloaded and executed by the processor 30,causes the control unit 29 to perform any of the steps of the method aswill be described in the following. The control unit 29 is thusprogrammed to perform the method. The computer instructions may bestored on a computer readable medium, and loaded into the memory 31 ofthe control unit 29. The computer readable medium may be anon-transitory computer readable medium. The processor may be made up ofone or several Central Processing Units (CPUs). The memory 31 may bemade up of one or several memory units. The memory may be anon-transitory computer readable memory. The control unit 29 isconnected to the different pumps and units by wire or by wirelessconnection, but any connections in the figures are here removed in orderto make the drawing more legible.

In FIG. 2 a part of the connector arrangement 10 is illustrated in moredetail. The connector device 11 includes a connector body 47 defined bya first body part 37 and a second body part 38. The first body part 37is arranged to be connected to the guiding arrangement 12 at one end ofthe first body part 37, and the second body part 38 arranged to beconnected to the first fluid port 8A (FIGS. 1, 4) at one end of thesecond body part 38. The first body part 37 is here fastened andconnected to the guiding arrangement 12 by means of a fasteningarrangement including an end collar 41, as illustrated in greater detailin FIG. 5. Further to FIG. 2, the second body part 38 is at the endthereof provided with a port opening 43 and a port space 39 designed forreceiving the port 8A. The first body part 37 and the second body part38 may be made in one piece, or alternatively in two or more pieces thatare joined by a suitable joining method. The first body part 37 and thesecond body part 38 are angled in respect to each other, thus arrangedwith an intermediate angle α between 70°-160°, and more particularbetween 90°-120°, to give the connector device 11 a shape of a handle,that is, a pistol shape, and to create a smooth connection between thefluid chamber 6 and the guiding arrangement 12. The guiding arrangement12 here includes a double lumen tube. According to another embodiment,the guiding arrangement 12 includes two separated tubes.

The connector device 11 is arranged with a locking arrangement 40including a locking button 40A and a jaw part 40B (FIG. 3) in order toreleasable lock the connector device 11 to the first fluid port 8A, aswill be further described in the following.

In FIG. 3 the part of the connector arrangement 10 shown in FIG. 2 isillustrated from an angled front view such that the port opening 43 andthe port space 39 are visible. Further inside the connector device 11,beyond the port space 39, a separating wall 42 is located. The portspace 39 is located between the port opening 43 and the separating wall42. The port space 39 is designed to receive the first fluid port 8A(FIG. 1), when the first fluid port 8A is inserted into the port opening43. The connector device 11 comprises a circular interior wall 50limiting or enclosing the port space 39. The interior wall 50 isconstructed with a dimension such that the first fluid port 8A can bereceived into the port space 39 and achieve a fluid tight connection.

The locking button 40A is arranged to an upper side of the second bodypart 38 of the connector device 11. The jaw part 40B is arranged to thesecond body part 38 and mechanically linked to the locking button 40A.When no pressure is exerted on the locking button 40A, thus, the lockingbutton 40A is released, the jaw part 40B protrudes inside the port space39. When the locking button 40A is pressed down, e.g. by a thumb of auser, the jaw part 40B is pushed down and away from the port space 39.The user may lock the connector device 11 to the first fluid port 8A bypressing on the locking button 40A whereby the jaw part 40B is pushedaway from, and out of, the port space 39; inserting the first fluid port8A into the opening of the connector device 11 and then releasing thelocking button 40A whereby the jaw part 40B protrudes into the portspace 39 through the interior wall 50 and mate with a correspondinggroove 60 on the fluid port 8A (FIG. 4). The jaw part 40B will thensecure the connector device 11 to the first fluid port 8A. The portopening 43 and port space 39 fit snuggly with the first fluid port 8Awhen the first fluid port 8A is inserted into the port space 39 suchthat no air or fluid may escape between the connector device 11 and thefirst fluid port 8A. When the first fluid port 8A is correctly insertedinto the port space 39 of the connector device 11 and the locking button40A is released, a tooth or several teeth of the jaw part 40B fit withand are inserted into the groove 60 in the first fluid port 8A and lockthe connector device 11 to the first fluid port 8A. When the lockingbutton 40B is pressed down, the tooth or teeth are withdrawn from thegroove 60 to release the first fluid port 8A.

In FIG. 4 an example of a fluid port is illustrated in isolation. Thefluid port may be any of the first fluid port 8A and the second fluidport 8B. The fluid port is e.g. a Hansen port. The fluid port isarranged with a tube intended to be inserted into the port space 39. Thetube is provided with an outer circumferential groove 60.

In FIG. 5 a cross section of the part of the connector arrangement 10shown in FIG. 2 is illustrated. The first fluid port 8A is here notinserted into the port space 39. However, when the first fluid port 8Ais received into the port space 39, the tube of the first fluid port 8Afits snuggly into the port space 39 such that a fluid tight coupling isachieved. The integrity of the coupling may be enhanced with a ringshaped seal tightening 48 between the connector device 11 and the tubeof the first fluid port 8A. The ring shaped seal tightening 48 isarranged in a proximal part of the port space 39, in a groove in theinterior wall 50 of the second body part 38 limiting the port space 39.When the first fluid port 8A is received into the port space 39, thedistal end of the tube of the first fluid port lay against the ringshaped seal tightening 48. The connector device 11 may also include asocket or collet 53 fitted in the port space 39 and aligned with theinterior wall 50, to accommodate the tube of the first fluid port 8A.

In some embodiments, the connector arrangement 10 defines an air channel36 and a fluid channel 35 that will be explained in detail in thefollowing with reference to the FIGS. 1-4. The air channel 36 isarranged for passing of air from the fluid chamber 6 (FIG. 1) via thefirst fluid port 8A. The fluid channel 35 is arranged for passing offluid from the fluid line 16 (FIG. 1) to the fluid chamber 6 via thesame first fluid port 8A. Further, the passing of air from the fluidchamber 6 via the first fluid port 8A and passing of fluid from thefluid line 16 to the fluid chamber 6 via the same first fluid port 8Amay be made simultaneously. Also, the fluid channel 35 and the airchannel 36 are separate channels. The air channel 35 extends from theport space 39 to the first wall connector 14A. The fluid channel 35extends from the first wall connector 14A to the port space 39. Thefluid channel 35 is thus arranged to be in fluid communication with thefluid line 16 and the first fluid port 8A, for passing of fluid from thefluid line 16 to the fluid chamber 6. Further, the air channel 36 isarranged to be in fluid communication with the first fluid port 8A andthe first wall connector 14A, for transfer of fluid, e.g. air, from thefluid chamber 6 to the connecting line 32.

One part of the fluid channel 35 is formed by a fluid path 35 a in theconnector device 11, and another part of the fluid channel is formed bya fluid lumen 35 b in the guiding arrangement 12. One part of the airchannel 36 is formed by an air path 36 a in the connector device 11, andanother part of the air channel 36 is formed by an air lumen 36 b in theguiding arrangement 12. The fluid path 35 a extends from the (inner endof the) port space 39 to a first end opening 51 of the connector device11. The fluid lumen 35 b is connected to the fluid path 35 a at thefirst end opening 51. The air path 36 a extends from the (inner end ofthe) port space 39 to the second end opening 52 of the connector device11. The air lumen 36 b is connected to the air path 36 a at the secondend opening 52. The fluid path 35 a and the air path 36 a are separatepaths. The fluid path 35 a and the air path 36 a are in one embodimentparallel paths. The fluid path 35 a and the air path 36 a may havecircular cross sections. The cross section of the air path 36 a is inembodiment smaller than the cross section of the fluid path 35 a. Forexample, the cross section of the air path 36 a may be less than halfthe cross section of the fluid path 35 a. As illustrated in FIG. 5, theseparating wall 42 separates a cavity inside of the first body part 37of the connector device 11 into an upper compartment 44 constituting apart of the air path 36 a and a lower compartment 45 constituting a partof the fluid path 35 a. The air path 36 a thus includes the uppercompartment 44, and the fluid path 35 a includes the lower compartment45. In other words, the separating wall separates the air path 36 a andthe fluid path 35 a. When the connector arrangement 10 is being used andattached to the first fluid port 8A, the connector device 11 shouldpreferably be in a position such that the upper compartment 44 islocated above the lower compartment 45.

As can be concluded from the above, the upper compartment 44 is part ofthe air channel 36, and the lower compartment 45 is part of the fluidchannel 35. The connector device 11 thus at least partly incorporatesthe fluid channel 35, and at least partly incorporates the air channel36. The fluid channel 35 and the air channel 36 debouch into the portspace 39 in the second body part 38 inside the connector device 11between an end of the separating wall 42 and the port opening 43. Theupper compartment 44 and the lower compartment 45 may together form acylinder formed space in the connector device 11. The separating wall 42separates this cylinder formed space in the axial direction of thecylinder. The separating wall 42 may thus have a rectangular shape. Theseparating wall 42 separates the cylinder shaped space such that theupper compartment 44 has a cross-sectional area that is smaller than thecross-sectional area of the lower compartment 45. Alternatively, theupper compartment 44 and/or the lower compartment 45 have circularcross-sections. The axial length of the separating wall 42 is of suchdimension such that when the first fluid port 8A is fully inserted intothe port space 39, the first fluid port 8A will not be hindered to beinserted into the port space 39. According to some embodiments, theaxial length of the separating wall 42 has such a size such that thefluid passed in the fluid channel 35 has a low or none turbulence whenentering the port space 39.

The fluid channel 35 and the air channel 36 thus extend inside thesecond body part 38 and from the second body part 38 further inside thefirst body part 37 and further into and inside the guiding arrangement12 connected to the first body part 37. The guiding arrangement 12 thusincorporates parts of the fluid channel 35 and the air channel 36. Thefirst body part 37 is arranged with two pipes 46 forming extensions ofthe upper compartment 44 and the lower compartment 45 into the firstbody part 37, and forms the first end opening 51 and the second endopening 51 of the device 11, respectively. Thus, a first pipe of thepipes 46 forms an extension of the upper compartment 44 and a secondpipe of the pipes 46 forms an extension of the lower compartment. Thepipes 46 protrude into a hollowness of the first body part 37. Theguiding arrangement 12, here a double lumen tube, is inserted into thehollowness of the first body part 37 from the opposite side and each ofthe channels or lumens 35 b, 36 b of the double lumen tube is fitted toa respective pipe 46. The guiding arrangement 12 is fastened to thepipes 46 with a fastening arrangement including a clamping connection 61and a screw joint. The clamping connection 61 comprises e.g. acompression ring arranged around the double lumen tube and a collar thatis slid over the compression ring. The clamping connection 61 is held inplace by the end collar 41 that is fastened to the first body part 37 bya screw joint. For that purpose, the end collar 41 has a threaded distalinside that mates with a threaded distal outside of the first body part37. The clamping connection 57 is thus arranged partly inside the firstbody part 37 and partly inside the end collar 41. The end collar 41 isthread on the double lumen tube. When the threaded distal inside of theend collar 41 is engaged with the threaded distal outside of the firstbody part 37, the end collar 41 press on the clamping connection 61 suchthat the double lumen tube is pressed against the protruding pipes 46 inorder to securely hold the double lumen tube in place. Thereby theguiding arrangement 12 is securely fastened to the connector device 11.When the end collar 41 is engaged to the first body part 37 by the screwjoint, the outside of the end collar 41 has a smooth transition to theoutside of the first body part 37.

The guiding arrangement 12 thus includes two tubes, either encapsulatedas one double lumen tube or as two separate tubes. In other words, theguiding arrangement 12 incorporates a fluid lumen 35 b and an air lumen36 b. One of the tubes includes or encapsulates part of the air channel36 and the other tube includes or encapsulates part of the fluid channel35. The tube including part of the air channel 36 is at one endconnected to the pipe 46 extending from the upper compartment 44 in theconnector device 11, and at the other end to the first wall connector14A and to the connecting line 32. The other tube including part of thefluid channel 35 is at one end connected to the pipe 46 extending fromthe lower compartment 45 in the connector device 11, and at the otherend to the first wall connector 14A and further to the fluid line 16.The pipes 46 thus extend the upper compartment 44 and the lowercompartment 45 into a respective of the tubes of the guiding arrangement12. More in detail, the fluid lumen 35 b is connected to the fluid path35 a at the first end opening 51, and the air lumen 36 b is connected tothe air path 36 a at the second end opening 52.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the guiding arrangement 12 is connected tothe first wall connector 14A via a corresponding mating connector of thedouble lumen tube, and is in connection with the fluid line 16 andconnecting line 32 inside the machine 50 via the same first wallconnector 14A. The first wall connector 14A thus connects the fluid line16 with the fluid channel 35, and continues the air channel 36 into theconnecting line 32. The connector device 11 is during use of the system1 continuously connected to the first fluid port 8A. When the system 1is not in use, or when the blood treatment unit 4 is being exchanged,the connector device 11 can be disconnected from the first fluid port 8Aand arranged on a rest port (not shown) on the cabinet wall 13.

The connecting arrangement 10 is to be used during normal operation ofthe system 1, but is also intended to be used when performing a primingprocedure during which the blood treatment unit 4 is primed withouthaving to turn the blood treatment unit 4. Thus, the first fluid port 8Ais always located above the second fluid port 8B when the bloodtreatment unit 4 is arranged in an operating position to the cabinetwall 13 of the renal replacement therapy machine 50. The blood treatmentunit 4 is in the operating position both during the priming procedureand during treatments. There is thus no need to have a rotatable armholding the blood treatment unit 4 that can turn the blood treatmentunit 4.

Before the priming starts, the priming fluid is prepared while thesystem 1 is in bypass. The machine 50 is then dressed with a bloodlinethat is connected to the blood treatment unit 4. The bloodline and theblood treatment unit thus make up the blood circuit 3. The blood circuit3 is then primed and the blood chamber 7 is thus filled with primingfluid. After the blood circuit 3 has been primed, the fluid circuit 2 isto be primed. The priming of the fluid circuit includes filling thefluid chamber 6 of the blood treatment unit 4 with a priming fluid. InFIG. 6 a flowchart of a method for priming the fluid chamber 6 isillustrated, and will hereinafter be explained with reference to thisfigure. The method may be initiated by attaching A1 the connector device11 to the first fluid port 8A. This step is typically made by anoperator of the system 1. When the connector device 11 is attached, themethod includes to preventing A2 fluid from escaping the fluid chamber6. This step can be performed by closing a drain valve unit 19 arrangedto the drain line 18. The control unit 29 is configured to send acontrol signal to the drain valve unit 19 to close the drain valve unit19. In a further step A3 the method includes filling the fluid chamber 6with fluid passed via the fluid line 16 (FIG. 1), the fluid lumen 35 b,the fluid path 35 a (FIG. 5) and the first fluid port 8A into the fluidchamber 6, meanwhile air trapped in the fluid chamber 6 escapes via theair path 36 a and the air lumen 36 b via the same first fluid port 8A.

The control unit 29 is thus configured to send a control signal to thefluid pump 15 in order to control the pump 15 to pump priming fluid inthe fluid circuit 2 and thus into the fluid chamber 6. As the primingfluid and any trapped air in the fluid chamber 6 are stopped fromescaping the fluid chamber 6 via the second fluid port 8B more than e.g.filling the drain line 18 up to the drain valve unit 19, the fluidchamber 6 will be filled with priming fluid and air trapped in the fluidchamber 6 is evacuated via the air channel 36 to the drain line 18 viathe connecting line 32. The control unit 29 is configured to send acontrol signal to the valve unit 33 in the connecting line to open thevalve unit 33 such that air can be passed to the drain line 18. As analternative, the connector arrangement 10 may include a vent (not shown)that is connected to the air line 36 in order to release air from thefluid chamber 6.

During treatment including priming etc., the blood treatment unit 4 isarranged in an operating position on a dialysis machine 50 such that thefirst fluid port 8A is located above the second fluid port 8B before thefilling starts. The priming thus includes filling the fluid chamber 6from the bottom of the fluid chamber 6 and up. Trapped air is passed viathe air channel 36 as it is the only possible way for the air to escapefrom the fluid chamber 6. Priming fluid is passed via the fluid channel35 into the fluid channel 35, so no air may escape via the fluid channel35. The priming of the fluid chamber 6 and priming of the blood chamber7 is performed when the blood treatment unit 4 is kept in substantiallythe same orientation.

The method may further include monitoring a filling criterion, see A4 inFIG. 6. If the filling criterion is fulfilled, the method includes in astep A5 to stop filling the fluid chamber 6. If the filling criterionhas not been fulfilled, the method returns to step A3. The control unit29 is thus configured to monitor the filling criterion for the fluidchamber 6, and to stop the filling when the criterion has beenfulfilled. When the fluid chamber 6 has been filled with priming fluid,the priming fluid will start to be passed into the air channel 36 andfurther to the waste line 18. The filling criterion may include apredetermined time limit for the time period for filling the fluidchamber 6. The control unit 29 is then configured to monitor the timethe fluid chamber 6 is being filled, and to stop the filling when thepredetermined time limit has been reached. Alternatively the fillingcriterion includes a predetermined pressure limit on the pressure in anyof the drain line 18 or the connecting line 32. The pressure P_(w) inthe drain line 18 and the connecting line 32 may be detected with thedetector device 34 arranged to the drain line 18. The control unit 29 isthen configured to monitor the pressure and to stop the filling when thepressure is equal to or has exceeded the predetermined pressure limit.The predetermined pressure limit is determined such that when such apressure has been reached, there is no more air in the connecting line32 and/or the drain line 18, and priming fluid has started to flow intothe connecting line 32, and also, or within some time, in the drain line18. In another alternative, the filling criterion includes apredetermined fluid level limit in a fluid accumulator (not shown)arranged to the drain line 18. The control unit 29 is then configured tomonitor the fluid level in the fluid accumulator, and to stop thepriming when the fluid level has reached or exceeded the predeterminedfluid level limit.

Generally, the filling criterion shall take into account that thereshall be no more air in the fluid chamber 6. Further, the fillingcriterion may include a presence of air and/or presence of liquid in anyof the drain line 18 or the connecting line 32. The control unit 29 isthen configured to monitors if there is any presence of air and/orpresence of liquid in any of the drain line 18 or the connecting line32.

The filling procedure of the fluid chamber 6 is stopped by opening thedrain valve unit 19, and closing the connecting line valve unit 33. Thepriming fluid will continue to be passed into the fluid chamber 6 viathe first fluid port 8A. The priming fluid will however now be passedout from the fluid chamber 6 via the second fluid port 8B that islocated below the first fluid port 8A. The priming fluid will be passedvia the drain line 18 to the fluid unit 28, e.g. to a drain. The system1 may after the priming of the fluid circuit 2 be set into arecirculation mode, where the priming fluid is recirculated in the fluidcircuit 2. The system 1 is now ready to start a treatment. It should benoted that the connector device 11 is attached to the blood treatmentunit 4 during dressing the machine 50, and will then remain in the sameattached position to the blood treatment unit 4 during priming andsubsequent treatments.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope ofthe appended claims.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A connector arrangement for connecting to a fluidchamber of a blood treatment unit for extracorporeal blood treatments,the blood treatment unit including a blood chamber, a fluid chamber, anda semipermeable membrane that separates the blood chamber and the fluidchamber, wherein the blood chamber is provided with a first blood portand a second blood port, and the fluid chamber is provided with a firstfluid port and a second fluid port, the connector arrangementcomprising: a connector device having a connector body comprising a portopening and an interior wall defining a port space configured to receivethe first fluid port of the fluid chamber, wherein the connector devicefurther includes a fluid path extending from the port space to a firstend opening of the connector device, and an air path extending from theport space to a second end opening of the connector device, and whereinthe fluid path and the air path are separate paths.
 23. The connectorarrangement according to claim 22, which includes a guiding arrangementincorporating a fluid lumen and an air lumen, wherein the fluid lumen isconnected to the fluid path at the first end opening, and the air lumenis connected to the air path at the second end opening.
 24. Theconnector arrangement according to claim 23, wherein the connector bodydefines a first body part connected to the guiding arrangement and asecond body part incorporating the port opening and a port space. 25.The connector arrangement according to claim 24, wherein the first bodypart and the second body part are arranged with an intermediate angle of70° to 160°.
 26. The connector arrangement according to claim 22, whichincludes a locking arrangement arranged to releasably lock the connectordevice to the first fluid port of the fluid chamber.
 27. A system forextracorporeal blood treatment, including a blood treatment unit havingthe blood chamber, the fluid chamber and the semipermeable membrane thatseparates the blood chamber and the fluid chamber, wherein the bloodchamber is provided with the first blood port and the second blood port,and the fluid chamber is provided with the first fluid port and thesecond fluid port, and wherein the system further includes a fluidcircuit including the fluid chamber and the connector arrangementconnected to the fluid chamber according to claim
 22. 28. The systemaccording to claim 27, wherein the first fluid port is located above thesecond fluid port when the blood treatment unit is arranged in anoperating position to a cabinet wall of a blood treatment machineincluded in the system, and wherein the connector device is connected tothe first fluid port.
 29. The system according to claim 28, wherein thefluid circuit includes a drain line connected to the second fluid portfor passing of waste fluid from the fluid chamber, wherein the air lumenis connected to the drain line for passing of air from the connectorarrangement to the drain line.
 30. The system according to claim 27,wherein the fluid circuit includes a fluid line connected to a fluidlumen, wherein the fluid lumen is connected to the fluid path at thefirst end opening.
 31. The system according to claim 30, which includesa fluid pump for pumping fluid in the fluid circuit, and a control unitconfigured to control the fluid pump to pump fluid into the fluidchamber, whereby the fluid chamber is filled with fluid and air trappedin the fluid chamber is evacuated via the air path and the air lumen tothe drain line.
 32. The system according to claim 31, wherein thecontrol unit is configured to monitor a filling criterion for the fluidchamber, and to stop the filling when the criterion has been fulfilled.33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the filling criterionincludes one of more criteria selected from the group consisting of: apredetermined time limit for the time period for filling the fluidchamber, a predetermined pressure limit on the pressure in any of thedrain line or the connecting line, a predetermined fluid level limit ina fluid accumulator arranged to the drain line, and/or a presence of airand/or presence of liquid in any of the drain line or the connectingline.
 34. A method for priming the fluid chamber of the blood treatmentunit of the system according to claim 27, wherein the connector deviceis attached to the first fluid port, and wherein the method comprises:preventing fluid from escaping the fluid chamber via the second fluidport; and filling the fluid chamber with fluid passed via the fluidline, the fluid lumen and the fluid path, while air trapped in the fluidchamber escapes via the air path and the air lumen.
 35. The methodaccording to claim 34, wherein the blood treatment unit is arranged inan operating position on a machine of the system such that the firstfluid port is located above the second fluid port before the fillingstarts, whereby the filling includes filling the fluid chamber from thebottom of the fluid chamber and up.
 36. The method according to claim34, further comprising stopping filling of the fluid chamber when afilling criterion has been fulfilled.
 37. The method according to any ofthe claim 34, wherein the system includes a blood line connected to theblood chamber and wherein the filling of the fluid chamber is part of apriming procedure of the blood treatment unit, the priming procedureincluding priming of the blood chamber.
 38. The method according toclaim 37, wherein the filling of the fluid chamber and the priming ofthe blood chamber are performed when the blood treatment unit ismaintained in substantially the same orientation.
 39. The methodaccording to claim 34, further comprising passing the escaped air to adrain line of the fluid circuit.
 40. The method according to claim 34,further comprising preventing the fluid from escaping the fluid chamberby closing a valve unit arranged to a drain line arranged to the secondfluid port.
 41. A computer program configured to operate on a system forextracorporeal blood treatment, wherein the computer program includescomputer instructions, which computer program, when downloaded andexecuted by a processor of a control unit of a system for extracorporealblood treatment, causes the control unit to perform the method of claim34.
 42. A computer readable medium including computer instructions that,when executed by the processor of a control unit of a system forextracorporeal blood treatment, cause the control unit to perform themethod of claim 34.